" Once I knew that I wanted to be an artist(writer),I had made myself into one. I did not understand that wanting dosen't always lead to action. Many of us had been raised without the sense that we could mold and shape our own lives, and so, wanting to be an artist(writer).... (but without the ability to realize our wants) was, for some of us, only an idle fantasy, like wanting to go to the moon."

" We are born in innocence. Corruption comes later. The first fear is a corruption, the first reaching for a something that defies us. The first nuance of difference, the first need to feel better than the different one, more loved, stronger, richer, more blessed-------these are corruptions."

Upon waking, many people consider the coming day with
trepidation. Because of the natural human tendency to focus on what we fear or
dislike, it is easy to unwittingly send a message of unease into the future that
negatively impacts the quality of your day. However, while our lives are busy
and frequently replete with challenges, they are also rich with joy and
experiences worth savoring. We can attract this natural bliss into our lives by
starting each day with a message of love. When you send love ahead to your day,
that love will manifest itself in your interpersonal interactions, your
professional endeavors, and your domestic duties. Tasks and circumstances once
made trying by your own anxiety are transformed by your love, and you will find
yourself approaching life's subtle nuances with great affection.

Each
morning, when you have cast off the fog of sleep, take several deep, grounding
breaths and reaffirm the love you have for yourself. Speaking a loving,
self-directed blessing aloud enables you to access and awaken the reservoir of
tenderness in your soul. Before you leave the comfortable warmth of your bed, be
sure to tell the universe that you are eager and ready to receive the blessings
it has set aside for you. Then as you prepare to meet the day, visualize
yourself first saturated by and then surrounded with a warm and soft loving
light. Gradually widen the circle of this light until you are able to send it
ahead into your future. If you are commuting to work, send love to the roads
upon which you will drive, your fellow commuters, and your parking space. If you
have colleagues who arrive at your workplace before you, send them love.
Likewise, a day spent being a parent or addressing household chores can benefit
from the sentiment that precedes you. Sending love ahea! d to everyone you will
meet and everything you will do can ensure that your day is suffused with grace.

If you have difficulty sending love to those situations and individuals
you deem particularly frustrating, consider that the warmth and tenderness you
project can change your life for the better. Each morning, in sending this love,
you will exercise your power to control the ambiance of your existence and to
color your day with positivity.

Repeating affirmations can calm the mind and give you a sense of well-being and
safety during times of insecurity. There are always times in life when you feel
like you need to protect yourself or your possessions. During these times it is
important to realize that you can use your mind to work through your thoughts.
At times like these, affirmations help you ride out the storm of your doubts and
fears and lead you to a greater feeling of calm. By harnessing the power of your
mind with positive statements today, you will guide yourself toward feeling more
secure in your life. [send green star]

This
is a positive affirmation of your ability to accomplish goals. It is a statement
of your belief in your power to grow, to change, and to help yourself. I can Y
statements are developed after you develop a set of "short-term'' (three to six months)
goals. Examples include:

I
can lose weightI can grow

I
can stop smokingI can heal

I
can handle my childrenI can let go of guilt

I
can gain self-confidenceI can let go of fear

I
can take risksI can change

I
can be a winnerI can be positive

I
can be strongI can be a problem solver

I
can pass calculusI can handle my own problems

I
can laugh and have funI can be honest with my feelings

I
can be assertiveI can let go of being compulsive

I
can control my temperI can succeed

I
will:A
statement of positive change in your life

This
is a positive affirmation of a change you want to achieve. It is a positive
statement of what you want to happen. It is a ``success prophecy.'' I will Y
statements are developed after you have set your priorities for the short-term
goals you have set. Examples include:

"I'' statements are one-line statements that can be repeated to cover three
areas:

I
am: A statement of who you are

This
is a positive affirmation of a real state of being that exists in you. You can
achieve a full list of I am Y statements by taking a personal
positive inventory of your attributes, strengths, talents, and competencies.
Examples include:

I guess it would depend on what your goals in life are. If your goals are personal achievement, if your goals are your children, or fulfillment of some dedication. Then you invest your time, your life, in that.

I imagine you could waste it away. So does this affirmation mean that you need to recognise a direction in life and move that way?